In this month's presidential election, Barack Obama secured a second term in the White House with about 51 percent of the nationwide popular vote.

With nearly 121 million total nationwide votes cast, challenger Mitt Romney finished with about 48 percent of the vote.

In North Carolina, the vote was also close, with Romney earning 50 percent to Obama's 48 percent.

Unhappy with the election's results and the direction of the country, some Americans are reaching into the nation's past in an attempt to solve their political frustrations in the present.

More than 150 years after states seceded from the union and set off the American Civil War, thousands of citizens throughout all 50 states are petitioning the White House to allow states to peacefully secede from the United States and create their own governments.

Residents from Shelby to Kings Mountain to Mooresboro have signed the secession petition.

Hundreds more across North Carolina have signed a counter petition urging the state to remain in the union.

The Star asked its Facebook readers if they would sign the secession petition.

In just a few hours, more than 80 people responded -- a mix of some saying they have signed the petition and others calling the petition ridiculous and "un-American."

What is it?

"We The People," a White House web page, provides an outlet for Americans to voice opinions. In recent days, dozens of petitions have been created urging the Obama Administration to allow states, North Carolina included, to withdraw from the United States and create their own governments.

How many people have signed the NC petition?

As of Wednesday at 5 p.m., more than 26,000 people had signed a petition urging North Carolina to peacefully secede from the United States. More than 800 people had signed a counter petition that North Carolina remain among the United States. North Carolina is home to about 10 million people, according to U.S. Census Bureau numbers from 2010.

What governs rights to such petitions?

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to petition their government. If enough support is generated through the online petitions created on the "We the People" web page, the White House staff will review the petition, send to policy experts and issue formal responses. To require a response from the White House, a petition must reach 25,000 signatures within 30 days, according to whitehouse.gov.

What does the North Carolina petition say?

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:

Peacefully grant the State of North Carolina to withdraw from the United States and create its own NEW government

As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the

powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires

that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these

ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government..."

Can you see who's signed the petition?

Those browsing the Internet can see the petition but only view each signee's first name and the initial of their last name, along with the town where they live.

Want to view the petitions?

Visit https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions. Share your thoughts on the petition on Twitter @shelbystar or on The Shelby Star Facebook page.

Readers respond

The Star asked the fans on its Facebook page what they think about the secession petition. Here's a sampling of what they said. To join the conversation, find The Shelby Star on Facebook and click "like."

"I have signed, and, yes, I would. For the first time in my life, I am no longer proud to be an American."

-- Jeane Dedmond Adams

"Certainly would not...how silly...we are the most fortunate country in the world!"

-- Sandee Carter Backus

"As a 65-year-old veteran, I just wish we could all get along and move this country forward for our kids and grandkids."

-- Donald Costner

"I am retired U.S. Air Force. If the government can't get it's act together, I am all for it."

-- Dale Suggs

"I am not in the mood for another bloody Civil War, which settled the idea of seceding from the union."

-- David Viola

"Yep, I'd sign it and allow NC to withdraw. THEN I'd move to the USA where it is so much more progressive."

-- Kathie Bryant

Poll question

What do you think about residents from states pushing for succession from the union?